What does abominate mean?
To abominate something is to detest it intensely — to regard it not merely with dislike but with profound loathing and moral revulsion. The verb is transitive, taking an object: one might abominate war, cruelty, hypocrisy, or corruption. Its force lies in the depth of feeling involved; where 'dislike' registers mild aversion, 'abominate' signals a visceral rejection, often rooted in ethical conviction rather than taste. The word is formal and literary in register, appearing more often in serious writing than in casual conversation, where simpler verbs like 'hate' or 'loathe' prevail. It derives from the Latin abominari, meaning to shun something as an ill omen, which also gave English the adjective 'abominable' and the noun 'abomination'. Though now relatively rare, 'abominate' remains a precise and powerful choice when a writer wishes to convey condemnation of unusual intensity, and it rewards readers with a vivid sense of moral seriousness.
verbTo abominate something is to detest it intensely or regard it with deep loathing and moral repugnance.
- To feel intense disgust or hatred toward something, especially on moral grounds; to find utterly abhorrent.
"She abominated cruelty of any kind, refusing to attend the bullfights even as a spectator."
"He abominated hypocrisy above all other faults."
"The reformers abominated the corrupt practices that had taken hold in the city's government."
The Latin root of 'abominate' literally means to 'shun as an ill omen' — ancient Romans so feared bad omens that the word for 'hate' was built from turning away from them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abominate
'Abominate' comes from the Latin verb abominari, formed from ab- ('away from') and omen ('an omen or portent'), originally meaning to shun or deprecate something as an unfavourable omen. The word entered English in the late Middle Ages via Old French and Latin ecclesiastical usage, first recorded in the fifteenth century, when it carried strong religious connotations of condemning sin or wickedness. Over time its use broadened into secular moral condemnation. It shares this origin with the adjective 'abominable' and the noun 'abomination', both of which are far more common today, while the related verb 'abhor' entered English separately from Latin abhorrere.
Related word forms
How abominate is actually used
'Abominate' is formal and somewhat literary or old-fashioned in register; in everyday speech, speakers typically prefer 'hate', 'loathe', or 'detest'. It is used only transitively and often appears with abstract objects such as practices, behaviours, or institutions rather than simple physical things. The tone is strongly negative and frequently implies moral judgement rather than mere personal dislike.
Easily confused with abominate
'Abominate' is the verb meaning to detest something intensely, while 'abominable' is an adjective describing the thing itself as loathsome or detestable.
'Abhor' is a near-synonymous verb of loathing, but 'abominate' carries a stronger sense of moral condemnation alongside the disgust.